Advice to help you learn and grow the most from your 200-hr. yoga teacher training.
Chances are that you’ll only do you 200-hr. once, so you really want to make the most of it! Take everything in, absorb all you can, and dive into the practice and life-style of yoga.
To help you along the journey I’ve come up with some advice I wish I had heard before I started my 200-hr program.
Commit to every part of the program- Yoga has many different facets; it is a complex and diverse web of information. There’s a good chance that you’ll be exposed to concepts and practices that are new and a bit weird to you. Be open-minded and dive right in. If something doesn’t speak to you right away, that’s totally fine, but at least give it a chance. You might discover something new that brings you joy!
Expect ups and downs- Just like life, you will have highs and lows during the program. This is to be expected, especially when you are tired, sore, and you have a test to study for! When you do have a low day, when you are worried about if you’ll ever learn all of Sanskrit names for the poses, just take a deep breath and remember that you can do this. Refocus your energy on being grateful for the opportunity to take the program.
Make friends- Yoga is all about connection so don’t be afraid to reach out to your fellow yogis. Practice teach with them, form study groups, enjoy this time with like-minded individuals that are working towards bettering themselves and their lives.
Don’t worry!- Ok, I know this one is easier said than done. Every student I get is so worried about if they will be able to teach, if people will like them, will they understand the material… on and on. These fears pull you out of the present moment and you won’t be able to fully absorb all of the information if you aren’t mental present. Trust me, every instructor has these fears in the beginning and we all end up doing just fine J
Happy training!
Christina Raskin